Friday, January 27, 2012

As many of you know by now, I absolutely loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. To me her writing and story telling was brilliant and I couldn't get enough of it.

Well, today she announced the title of the second book in that trilogy and also treated us to this little blurb:

Once
upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a
new way of living—one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of
the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from
their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once,
the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a
world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel—a paradise waiting for
them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

And here's the title for the much anticipate sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone:

I was squeeing so much when I saw this you don't even know! A cover real and possible ARCs for Days of Blood and Starlight can't possibly come soon enough as far as I'm concerned.

This is where I talk about new books that really stand out to me or sound unique, and what new books I have to read or will be getting soon.

There are so many amazing books coming out that it's difficult to choose just a few, but I've found some great ones to share with you this week.

First up we have Ironskin by Tina Connoly:

Summary:Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The
Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the
ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child.
Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she
certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic
artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own
scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed
studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear
iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are
true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and
discover just how far she will go to become whole again.

Not only does this sound like a fascinating retelling of Jane Eyre, but it also has some fantasy elements that have pulled me in. Faerie stories haven't always been my favorites, but I'm finding more and more that sound so good, this one included. And this cover has absolutely sealed the deal for me to want to read this!

Next up we have Renegade by J. A. Souders:

Summary:Since the age
of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be
Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium.
Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes all her life
she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The
Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into
their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling
realization: everything she knows is a lie. Her memories have been
altered. Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. And the person
she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own
mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will
destroy them all.

From the moment I read this description I knew that I had to read this. It sounded intriguing and exciting and just right up my alley. And now with this gorgeous new cover I'm just itching to get an ARC.

This YA debut by mother-son duo Syrie and Ryan James was a fun, sweet read that I could not put down. I fell in love with this right away and couldn't wait to find out what happened next.

Claire Brennan is used to picking up and moving with her mom at the drop of a hat, they've done it all her life. But at seventeen she finally feels comfortable at Emerson Academy, has friends, and doesn't want to leave. So when she begins to have visions and warnings, she doesn't tell her mom about them.

Alec MacKenzie is tired of his life of following strict orders and dealing with death. He just wants to be normal and escape his angelic past. But he instead encounters more than he bargained for when he enrolls himself at Emerson Academy. A forbidden love and fear of being discovered are just the start before things get even more dangerous.

From the moment I started this I was hooked. Claire was such a fun character, typical teen girl with problems that I can relate and remember experiencing at that age. Her relationship with Alex reminded me of Kimberly Derting's characters from The Body Finder in how cute they were with butterflies in the stomach and wondering how the other feels. I found myself awwing more than once. Oh, and I can I just say that Alec is Scottish. With the accent and everything...

I loved the angel lore that Syrie and James presented, giving readers a unique and new take on it. They weren't you're typical guardian's or fallen angels, but they were definitely something to fear if you had angel blood. The background and history they gave really pulled me in, but didn't take away from the story either. In fact, I wanted to know more.

This was just such an adorable read for me and I enjoyed discovering everything along with the characters. I hated for it to end, but loved being able to take the journey. And with the way that the story was left off, it gives me hope that there could possibly be more from these characters and this fabulous duo in the future. *crosses fingers*

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cherie's debut novel is all about embracing whatever life throws your way and finding the good in it. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it, but I found that I enjoyed this story and wanted to read more.

Madison is pretty comfortable with the way her life is going. She doesn't like changes, and likes to be prepared for whatever is ahead. The changes of gaining a baby brother and having her boyfriend move away are things she tries to avoid.

So when the new boy in town, Isaac, shows up and completely shakes things up for Madison, she doesn't know what to think. The closer they get, though, the crazier everything else becomes. Including Madison's best friend seeing things that aren't there and desperately trying to keep it together. Will Madison be prepared for what she has to face in order to set things right?

From the very beginning I felt like Cherie did an excellent job of setting up her characters and their relationships. I felt like I was experiencing the ups and downs right along with Madison when she was trying to figure out Isaac and when things got worse with her best friend, Kaylee.

I had no idea where this was heading so I was really intrigued when things began to really go crazy. There was just enough mystery for readers to want to keep going and figure out just what was happening. I would have preferred a little more background and information, but that's just me. I like all that nitty gritty stuff.

Madison definitely had a lot to deal with in this book, none of which I want to give away for anyone who hasn't read it, and I can definitely see room for more books if that's what the author has in mind. Embrace is a fun, exciting read that I'm so glad I got a chance to enjoy.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

This was the first debut novel I finished in 2012, so yay! And I can honestly say I didn't know what to expect when I got into it, but I was not left disappointed.

Delaney Maxwell had been stuck under frozen lake for eleven minutes before her best friend Decker was able to get her out. By all accounts she had been dead, and then brain damaged. So no one expected her to wake up or to even be able to talk.

But Delaney walked away even more of a miracle when she realized she could feel when people were about to die. Her struggle to understand her new gift, those around her, and even the strange new guy who can seemingly do what she can will help open Delaney's eyes to possibilities. If you had one day left to live, what would you do.

From the moment I started reading this I couldn't seem to put it down. Delaney was a medical miracle, but by all accounts was also a typical teenager. She struggled with finding her place in the world, with finding acceptance, with understanding herself. This was not only a journey about what she could do, but also about accepting who she was.

And one of the main questions toward the end that Delaney asked was, "If you had one day left to live, what would you want to do with it?" I think this is what Delaney works toward throughout the story, coming to terms with what happened.

Megan's research for this was clear and very well used, even the descriptions of what Delaney felt each time she was pulled toward someone dying... I started to feel itchy and uncomfortable right along with her. I certainly couldn't imagine experiencing that.

And, though I have a feeling she won't, Megan left this book for the possibility of continuing it on if she ever felt the desire to. Either way, I'm looking forward to more from this author.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Hello everyone! This week, thanks to The Teen Book Scene, we are going to be joined by Syrie James. She and her son, Ryan James, wrote a wonderful YA book that should be out later this month called Forbidden. I hope you enjoy this little chat with her.

Author
interview for Syrie:

1.Was it different or difficult for you to get
the mindset of a teen to write Forbidden?

Not at all. I remember very clearly what it was
like to be Claire’s age, and I related to her completely. Plus, since I spent a
lot of time behind the scenes at my sons’ high school theater, it was easy to
put myself into their world—especially since we set the book at a version of
that same school.

2.How did you decide who would write what parts
of the story?

We didn’t divide anything initially. We plotted
out the story and wrote the entire first draft of the novel together. I did a
major revision on my own after the book sold, because Ryan was busy working 60
hours a week and planning his wedding—but he then reviewed all my changes, and
we did another complete pass at the novel together.

3. When you're working on a novel, do you ever find
yourself switching over to screenwriting mode?We tend to think of everything cinematically. All the elements that apply
when constructing a great screenplay (story, structure, pacing, and creating
something visual) are invaluable when writing a novel. Also, we wrote as much
exposition (the explanation of background information essential to the story)
as possible in dialog, which is a cinematic technique. In a movie, the only way
you understand exposition is when it’s shown visually by the characters acting
it out, or when a character explains it. We think it’s more interesting when
two or more characters discuss a subject (like the intricate history, politics,
or other details of a world), than to read about it in prose, like in a text book.

However, the act of
composing a novel is entirely different than a script. Whereas a screenplay is
basically an outline with dialog, a novel brings characters and settings to
life in full, dramatic, living color, with descriptions of everything, and the
addition of a character’s thoughts and feelings. We hope we bridged the gap
between the two mediums in an interesting way, by combining the best aspects of
each.

4.
If you could be a character in any book, who would you pick and
why?Elizabeth
Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Who wouldn’t want to marry the awesome Mr. Darcy
and live at Pemberley forever? J

5. Did you find that you and Ryan had the same vision
for Forbidden? Or did you each have certain aspects that the other wanted to
change?

The
idea for the book itself was a combination of both our visions. I wanted to write about a
teenage girl who begins getting psychic messages from a mysterious source, and enlists the
aid of a boy at school to solve the mystery. I always knew that a deeply felt
romance would develop between them, and that this young man should prove to be
far more involved and invested in the mystery than she ever anticipated. Ryan
and I had also co-written and produced an independent film based on an idea of
his, about a young, lonely, supernatural action hero in a dark world, whose
heart's desire was to be human and lead a normal life. I thought it’d be a
great idea to combine both ideas. What if our hero left his supernatural
"job" forever, and tried to pass as human at a high school?

Ryan loved the concept,
and we decided to write the book together. We storyboarded the whole thing, and
began with a shared vision of the plot and the world. As the book progressed,
at times we had to stop and have long, meaningful discussions about the world
we’d created for these characters, and restructure the plot for better
pacing—but anything we might have disagreed on was minor, and easily resolved.
Ultimately, neither of us had to compromise anything for the sake of the other.

Thanks so much for joining us this week, Syrie! And please don't forget to check back for my review of Forbidden next week.

Trisha's debut novel is an exciting whirlwind of action, romance, and supernatural powers. I couldn't wait to read this from the moment I read the description, and I definitely wasn't disappointed.

Dez Harkley is a part of an ancient and nearly extinct race of shape-shifter guardian's, and she was a Shythe. They protected the Egyptian pharaohs and now protect humans. And with Dez's seventeenth birthday coming up the only thing she thought she had to fear was the Change.That was at least until their enemy race, the Narcolyms, arrived in their haven and began integrating into their society. Dez and her friend's know that theirs more going on then their being told, but they aren't sure what it is. And with Dez's new out of control powers, she'll have to figure out how she fits into it.

I absolutely loved this from the moment I started reading it. The world Trisha created was fresh and imaginative, with a little steampunk twist. Everything from the background of the Shythe and Narcolyms to the powers they possessed was incredibly thought out and wonderfully delivered.

The relationships that Trisha developed with her characters was a major part of what I liked about this book as well. You could really tell how everyone got along and how strong their connections were. I had a difficult time keeping from crying in certain places and screaming out in others.This was a remarkable debut and one that I'm so glad I got to read. One thing that I would have liked was to have gotten a bit more background on the Shythe and Narcolyms. We learn a lot about their powers and shifting and how neither likes one another, but for me, personally, getting more information about why they had such a hatred and such would have really added to. Maybe we'll get more in the next one *hint, hint* *cough*

But seriously, I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read more for this author. She has a wonderful way of weaving a story and drawing readers in! For more about this author you can check out her website http://trishawolfe.com/ or follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TrishWolfe.

This debut novel was all that I could have hoped for and more. Veronica absolutely outdid herself, and this was only the first book in the trilogy! She's definitely caught my attention.

Aria and Perry are teenagers that live in completely different worlds. Aria's is one in an inclosed city of Dwellers where everyone travels through the Realms, virtual worlds. Perry's is one on the outside where he has to struggle to survive.

Both thrust into impossible situations, Aria and Perry must reluctantly rely on each other in order to get things back to the way they were. Their unlikely alliance under the never sky brings them through challenges and discoveries that neither prepared for, including a beautiful and forbidden romance.

From the moment I started reading this I didn't want to put it down. I was completely entranced by the characters and worlds that Veronica had created, including a nifty little secret about Perry that I hadn't known about beforehand. This was something new and fresh that I was so excited I found!

Not only is this a dystopian unlike any of the others I've read so far, there's also an introduction of science fiction/fantasy elements that just seemed to fit perfectly. I don't want to give it away, but I will say that it only made me love Perry more. The world for the Outsiders holds more secrets than any of them could know.

I also truly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Aria and Perry. It wasn't love at first sight, more like loathe, and they had to fight through their prejudices of what the other was like from rumors that they'd heard. I definitely want more of them.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I can't believe I have to wait for the next book in this amazing trilogy, but that just tells you what a great writer Veronica is. She pulls her readers in and hooks them, leaving them hungry for more. We only get a little taste of the story for these characters and I can't even imagine what else Veronica has in store.

I am patiently (or not so much) waiting for book 2 to be available and highly recommending this amazing book.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

When I first read the description for this book, I was very intrigued. So when I was asked to review it for the republishing at St. Martin's I jumped at the chance.

Wendy Everly has never really fit in. Her mother tried to kill her when she was six years old, and everyone else except her brother and aunt thought she was strange.

But, when Wendy is seventeen, she learns why from the other new guy at her school, Finn Holmes. Despite what she wants, Wendy ends up in a world she had never imagined and struggles just to figure it all.

From the very beginning I couldn't stop reading this. The concept Amanda had come up with sounded very interesting and I wanted to know what was going on. Plus, I loved the dynamic of Wendy and Finn's relationship. From the moment they met there was obviously a connection between them.

We don't get a whole lot of answers in this first book, which I think is a good thing. It keeps the readers coming back for more and wondering what is going on. Amanda introduces just a little bit about the world of the Trylle, including the royalty, their powers, and how they are able to sustain themselves. So we're left with questions about not only the Trylle society, but also some of the other characters.

I'm definitely interested to find out more about Wendy's mother, who just so happens to be Queen, Finn, and Tove, one of the royals. There's so many places that Amanda could go with this world and these characters and I'm interested to find out how it all works out.

Monday, January 2, 2012

I'm so sad to see this series come to an end, but it's been wonderful all the way through. Andrea Cremer definitely created a fantastic world and kept me captivated all the way through.

Calla Tor has been preparing for war her entire life, but now the stakes have changed. Not only are they fighting the masters they served for years, but Calla also has to prove herself as alpha and protect her pack.

Everything rides on protecting Shay so that he can fulfill his purpose, but with Ren back in the picture that's easier said than done. It's fight up to the very end and with so many lives hanging in the balance, will they be able to face this last challenge?

In Nightshade we are first introduced to Calla and the Guardian's in their lives with the Keepers. Everything they had ever known had been in Vail and with the Keepers, and the story was in a completely different dynamic. But with Wolfsbane and Bloodrose everything changed for them and the battle for their lives was near. I loved that change and intensity of the story, the shift of discovery from the first book to action in the others.

Calla is a strong female, and I absolutely love that about her. Not only is she a Guardian, but she's also an alpha and she's not afraid to put the boys in place when they get out of hand. Though she is a teenage girl with typical teen worries, she always manages to put her pack first.

Even though book comes out tomorrow, I still don't want to give anything away. So, all I will say is that I absolutely loved this book and the trilogy as a whole. I'm still trying to decide exactly how I feel about the ending, though it made sense and Andrea had been hinting at it since Wolfsbane. I will definitely continue to read more from her and can't wait for the companion novel for this series.

Courtney's debut, Angelfire, was absolutely fabulous, so there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to read the second book in the series. And it was even better than the first!

As Ellie struggles to maintain a normal life outside of being the Preliator, especially with Will, the reapers become even bolder. Coming after her anywhere and everywhere they can.

And with a warning from the unlikeliest of sources, Ellie realizes that things are about to start getting much worse. Tragic deaths and betrayal prove that they'll stop at nothing to get what they want, and Ellie has to fight to stay ahead. Or she'll lose much more than her life.

I couldn't put this down, but at the same time I didn't want to finish it. Having to wait until next year to find out the conclusion, all though a long wait, will definitely be worth it. The world and character's that Courtney has created are wonderfully crafted and brilliantly revealed. Each new layer that's uncovered only further sucked me in.

Not only were there new and scary reapers, but there were also new revelations to Ellie's past lives and Will's as well. Their relationship is so beautiful and strong, to watch their struggle to stay a part was heartbreaking. I felt as though I was experiencing everything right along with them. Yes Ellie is strong and can take care of herself, but I love the fact that Will is there to help her through it all.

With new alliances and a surprise ending, Courtney has herself (and her readers) up for an amazing ride in the final installment. I don't want to give away what happens, but let me just say that I can almost guarantee that when you finish you'll be just as shocked as I was and ready for the next book.

I didn't think it was possible for me to like a sequel better than the first, but I definitely did in this case and I have a feeling I'll like the third one even more so. And until then, I highly recommend Wings of the Wicked and hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did!